We sought to evaluate the prognostic role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with definite, borderline and possible diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) as defined by the International Task Force (TF) in 2010. CMR was performed in 175 patients: 52 with definite, 50 with borderline and 73 possible ARVC. Abnormal-CMR was defined as the presence of ≥1 CMR abnormalities (including abnormalities of right ventricular and left ventricular wall motion, fat infiltration, late gadolinium enhancement, dilation and dysfunction of either ventricles)...

BACKGROUND: The second-generation cryoballoon (CB) is effective in achieving pulmonary vein isolation. Continuous monitoring would eliminate any over- or underestimated freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) postablation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to differentiate between arrhythmias occurring after cryoballoon ablation (CBA), detecting true AF in symptomatic patients and detecting silent subclinical AF. METHODS: Between June 2012 and January 2015, 54 patients with a preexisting cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) who had undergone CBA for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) were included in our retrospective study...

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and may contribute to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is important to assess parameters associated with AF in HCM patients. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to evaluate AF prevalence in patients with HCM and to investigate risk factors for AF. METHODS: Five hundred and forty-six HCM patients aged below 65 were included into analysis...

Background: Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is sometimes observed in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). The aim of this study was to assess the role of NSVT in the survival prognosis of NMD patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the patients with NMDs who had undergone Holter ECG recordings at a single center between February and August 2012. Sixty-eight patients were enrolled in this study. The 5 year follow-up was assessed according to the cumulative event-free rate...

BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) lacks the antitachycardia pacing (ATP) capability of tranvenous ICDs (TV-ICD). S-ICD patient selection can be challenging as some patients may benefit from ATP. We aim to identify clinical predictors of ATP benefit, in order to improve patient selection for S-ICD or TV-ICD therapy. METHODS: De novo single- and dual-chamber TV-ICD patients implanted between March 2011 and December 2015 were included...

OBJECTIVE: Pre-clinical evidence suggests delivery of nitric oxide (NO) through administration of inorganic nitrite suppresses arrhythmias resulting from acute ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R). To date no assessment of whether inorganic nitrite might limit reperfusion arrhythmia has occurred in man, therefore we explored the effects on I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias in the NITRITE-AMI cohort. METHODS: In the NITRITE-AMI cohort, Holter analysis was performed prior to and for 24 h after primary PCI in 80 patients who received either intra-coronary sodium nitrite (N = 40) or placebo (N = 40) during primary PCI for AMI...

In women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), pregnancy prompts major changes in hemodynamic and cardiac autonomic function that may precipitate heart failure (HF) or increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. We report the clinical follow-up of two patients with non-obstructive HCM implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) allowing for continuous analysis of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac arrhythmia throughout the entire course of pregnancy. Both patients experienced increased HR and decreased HRV from the early stages of pregnancy, which persisted until delivery...

Background: Whether nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a marker of increased risk of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) remains to be established in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) for primary prevention. Methods: Among the follow-up data of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) with an implantation date between January 2011 and August 2015, information regarding a history of NSVT before the CRT-D implantation for primary prevention had been registered in 269 patients...

INTRODUCTION: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous disease associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) mainly due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation even though life-threatening bradycardia occurs. Risk stratification takes several variables into consideration including non-sustained VT (NSVT). An implantable cardioverter defibrillator effectively prevents SCD.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common among patients with HCM and warrants anticoagulation even without conventional risk factors according to European guidelines...

The risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mild-to-moderately reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. This retrospective case-control study aims to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with the development of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) as documented on permanent pacemakers or implantable loop recorders in tertiary care center patients with an LVEF of 35% to 50%. Data pertaining to patient demographics, previous medical history, heart failure functional class, echocardiographic parameters, and survival were compared between the groups...

INTRODUCTION: Ion channel gene mutations are risk factors for SCD. THE AIM: To assess the prognostic value of A2753831C, C2505734T, C2505846A, G2753881A, T2755854C and T2755875G mutations in the KCNQ1 gene in patients after MI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group of 100 patients after MI was divided into two groups: patients with mutations (n=23) and patients without mutations (n=77). The subjects underwent physical examinations, laboratory tests, ECG, Holter ECG and echocardiography...

BACKGROUND: Although new pacemakers can register cardiac rhythm, few studies were performed evaluating their accuracy in diagnosing ventricular arrhythmias (VA). This study aimed to assess the correlation and agreement between the pacemaker's monitor and the ambulatory Holter in detecting VA. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 129 patients with pacemakers, mean age 68.6 ± 19.1 years, 54.8% female. Once Holter monitoring was connected, the pacemakers' event counters were reset and clocks of both systems were synchronized to register electrocardiograms (ECG) simultaneously...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early and intensive atorvastatin treatment can decrease nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The objective of this study was to compare the effects of hydrophilic rosuvastatin and lipophilic atorvastatin on nsVT in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The data from a cohort of patients undergoing primary PCI at Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016 were analyzed...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder but data on survival rates are still conflicting and have not so far been quantitatively reviewed. The aim of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis of cohort studies to assess pooled survival rates and prognostic factors for survival in patients with HCM. Nineteen studies were included representing 12,146 HCM patients. The pooled 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 98.0%, 94.3%, 82.2% and 75.0%, respectively. Among patients with HCM, age, NYHA functional class, family history of sudden death (FHSD), syncope, atrial fibrillation, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT), maximum left ventricular wall thickness and obstruction were significant prognostic factors for cardiovascular death...